Cotton picking machine



April 14, 1942. W N, SMWH 2,279,598

COTTON PICKING MACINB Filed Nov. l2, 1940 Mums;

William" Nmh M INVENTOR.

A'r'roRN EY Patented Apr. 14, 1942 n ,2,279,59s-v-j ,UNITED srlrrlasgI PATENT OFFICE' i -co'r'roN -Plenum MACmNE wiuiamNeai smith, Dallas,- Tex.

ApplicationvNovember 12, 1940, serial No. 365,289

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cotton harvesting and picking machines and it has particular reference to that type or kind of cotton picking machine wherein a series of reciprocating needles or gathering units are provided to engage the stalks bearing the cotton and so constructed that the lint will readily adhere to or be entwined about the needles in Vsuch mannenas to withdraw the cotton from the open bol'ls and deposit the same into a receptacle suited for the purpose and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of a new'and novel mechanical ar-y rangement and assembly of velements for imparting to the gathering units or needles a cer# tain desirable movement by which they are rendered more .eective in their performance as stated, in engaging, withdrawing and releasing the'V cotton into containers for disposal in any suitable manner.

Still another object of the invention yresides in a comparatively simple mechanical arrangeme'nt for imparting rotary motion to the several groups of picking needles as they enter the foliage of the stalk to perform the improved function desired.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision, as stated, of a novel mechanical arrangement for operating the picking units or needles in groups, of which there areseveral asA a unitary structure opposing'the rows 'of cotton,

the said groups of picking units being capable of alternate recprocative movement, so that each.

'stalk of cotton or bush will be subjected to the full effects ofthe opposing groups of reciprocating and rotating needles.

It is intended, as oneof the outstanding features of the invention, that the picking needles,

while collectively advanced into the stalk foliage in groups, each group will alternate as expressed but the needle assemblies are each provided with means to impart rotation thereto during the eective thrust or picking movement, becoming inoperative on the retracting movement of the needle so that the latter will not rotate, and will be relieved of its cotton by contact with a stripper head so disposed in a.l compartment of the machine that a suitable air suction will remove the cotton to a receptacle in themachine designe Y to receive the same.V A-

Another object of the invention is to provide, together with the novel needle operating device,

an improved structure in the needle itself and in which the end of the needle entering the stalk foliage basa diameter slightly greater than the distance between the tips of the teethdisposed in opposed relationship on the needles, whereby to protect the stalk, unopened bolls, squares and the like from any injurious effects the teeth may4 have thereon when entering the foliage, since to bruise the bark of the stalkwould result in releasing the sap which would likely adhere to the cotton rendering it most difficult to handle.

With the foregoing and other objects las paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts to become manifest as the 5 4description proceeds, taken in f connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure l is a side elevational view of. a picking box unit, showing one group of'picking assemdetail view of the picking spindle4 Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail,

view of Figure '2, taken on line 8 8 thereon, andl Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view on line 9-9 on Figure 8.

In continuing further and in greater detail with the drawing, it is pointed out that invention resides especially in the construction of the picking needle and the means by which it is caused to revolve during Vthe picking action, to become non-rotatable as 'it isretracted and the invention is not concerned with any specic form of machine construction or driving means. However,l the following `description will include a form of Vreciprocating means for the groups/or banks.

of picking units in order that a complete under` standing of the invention may be had.

InVFigure 1 is shown a picker box assembly,

shown in side elevation and'generally referred to by reference numeral'lland wherein is dis- Kposed a group of needle assemblies of the invention; These assemblies are arranged in pairs, one' being situated on either side of a row of cotton so that certain 'of the groups of enter the plant duringwithdrawal therefrom of other'groups.

In the box needles lo a' verticallyl disposed 'fece plate II is provided and which serves as a mounting for the needle assemblies. Since each assembly of each group is the same, it will be considered suflicient to describe a single needle assembly as representative of the entire group.

- A picking spindle sleeve I2 is secured at its forward end in an aperture in the face plate I I provided therefor by means of nuts I3 which, in

conjunction with a shoulder a in the sleeve I2 and key I3,'hold the sleeve-against longitudinal and rotative displacement with respect to the face plate I I. i

The picker spindle, which operates in the sleeve I2 is in two axially alined sections, the rear or rotator end being identified by numeral I4 while the picker stem is identified by numeral I5, shown in detail in Figures 3 and 5 respectively. The rotator section of the picker spindle is in part, square in transverse cross-section (Figure 4), so that when each end is secured and the body twisted in opposite directions, the result produces the characteristic of a helical groove b. The inner end portion c is machined to provide a shaft while the opposed end d is threaded to be received in a coupling block I6, which block serves the dual function of holding the spindle sections in end to end relationship and to afford a. means for locking the spindle for rotative movement in one direction and to which specic reference will be made presently.

Surrounding thepicker stem I5, within the end'of sleeve I2, so that it will bear' against a thrust washer I1 is an oilless bearing I8. This bearing is held in position by. means of a retaining means I9 which will be herein referred to as the stripper as it likewise serves to remove cotton impaled on the needles. Thepicker stem I of the needle reciprocates in the bearing I8.

Mounted for sliding movement on theV rear end of sleeve I2 is a second sleeve or collar 20. The interior of this collar has an annular shoulder e and from this point rearwardly, the inner diameter of the collar is greater than from the shoulder forward, in order to provide a recess for balls 2l, reposing in recesses 22 (Figure 7) in the inner endof sleeve I2. The sleeve I2 is also providedwith slots 23 through which extend inwardly bolts 24 which may also be referred to as closing dogs inasmuch as their presence in the assembly is to cause the balls 2| to converge on.

the helical surface b ofthe spindle section I4 to cause the spindle to rotate, as will be explained fully presently.

The inner end or shaft c of the picker spindle passes through a thrust bearing assembly, madev up of an outer bushing 25 and a concentrically arranged inner bushing 26, each having anges 21, spaced apart, to receive the ball race 28. The bushings extend through an aperture in an actuating bar 29, which bar is vertically disposed in the box or housing I0 to accommodate a group of picker assemblies, as shown in Figure l. A thrust pin 30 is arranged for longitudinal movement below and in parallel relationship with each spindle and a thrust washer 3| is heldin position by a -nut 32 to hold the washer in position to engage the thrust pin, to bear against and move the collar 20 through the bearing assembly 28. A lug 28? integralwith the washer has an oblique 'face which will permit rotation of the washer and consequently the spindle in one direction butwill not slide over pin 30 upon a tendency of the spindle to rotate in the opposite direction or retracting movement.

It. is understood'that the actuating bar 29 is reciprocated in a horizontal plane to cause the picker spindles to be thrust forward into the cotton plants with a rotary motion and retracted Cil without rotary movement. To accomplish such movement of the actuating bar, a pair of eccentrics 33, are mounted each'upon a shaft 34 and" are provided with arms 35, pivotally connected at 36 to links 31, which links are pivotally joined together at 38. To the extremity of each link 31 is pivoted connecting links 39 at f, the opposite ends ofthe links being pivoted to 'the upper and lower ends of the actuating bar 29 at'y.

It is apparent from the foregoing that as the shafts 34 are revolved, the eccentrics 33 will oscillate to effect a change in the positions of the links 31 and 39, having the effect to reciprocate the actuating bar 29. Rollers 40, journaled in the ends of the actuating bar operate in channels thrust washer 4I in the top and bottom of housing I0 vto maintain strict rectilinear movement of the picking spindles, the ends of which are secured, as stated, to the actuating bar.

In operation: At the end of the forward movement of the actuating bar 29 and spindle the 3I bears against the thrust pin 30, which, in turn, pushes against the collar 20 urging the same forward on sleeve I2. Due to thisyaction, the balls 2|, which were reposing in the helical grooves b ofthe spindle section I4, will be caused to recede therefrom into the annular cavity of collar 20. This operation takes place immediately at the start of the rearward movement of the spindles and consequently they do not rotate during suchrearward movement. Immediately before the rearward movement is reached, the block I6, by which the two sections of the spindle are coupled together, engages the dogs -or inwardly directed bolts 24, thereby urging the collar 20 rearwardly, pushing the shoulder e of the collar against the balls 2I, causing them to advance upon the portion I4 of the spindle, to lie in the groove b therein, preparatory to rotating the spindle upon the next forward thrust. It isapparent therefore, that with Returning to the specific construction of the,

needles, it is pointed out that while the barbs or lteeth h thereof are not unlike those of the needles employed in analogous machines but attention is directed to the fact that the needle design of the present invention embraces an integral disc 42 whose diameter, as stated, exceeds slightly the overall width of the needle stem I5 and when rapidly rotated, assumes the appearance of a ball. This feature insures against damage to the foliage, bolls and squares or the stalk.

As the spindle is withdrawn into the sleeve I2, the picker section I5 through apertures 43 in a front plate 44 at the operative side of the box I 0 next adjacent the cotton row and as the spindle is thus moved, such cotton as has been entwined about the picker end, will be wiped oli' by contact with the stripper head I9, and the cottonwill be instantly caught up by air suction through chamber C of the box I0 into which the cotton is drawn by the picker needles, aided by 'said suction at the apertures 43 in the plate 44.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modication and such is likewise withdrawn y modiiication as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be Within the spirit and in.

tent of the invention.

What is claimed isi 1. In a cotton picking machine of the type having opposed reciprocating banks of picking needles, a needle operating means comprising a y helically grooved shank `for said needle, a sleeve through which said needle shank reciprocates, a needle actuating arm to which said shank is ccnnected, a collar arranged for limited sliding movement on said sleeve, means to eiect movement of said collar, said collar having diametrically opposed ball recesses therein, balls in said recesses adapted upon movement of said collar in one direction to engage the grooves of said shankto rotate said shank and needle and means to effect reverse movement of s'aid collar upon reverse movement of said needle to retract said balls` from said grooves whereby they will be ineffectual to ro operating section reciprocates, a collar slidable on said sleeve and having diametrically opposed ball recesses therein, balls in said recesses, and operated upon movement of said collar in one direction to engage in the grooves of said operating section to rotate said barbed section on the impaling thrust and means effective to retract said balls from said grooves whereby they .will be rendered inoperative upon reverse movement of said ary sleeve, a collar arranged for limited sliding movement on said sleeve, having ball recesses therein, balls in said recesses actuated by movement of said collar into the grooves of said shank upon the impaling thrust of said needle to effect rotation of the latterand means to retract said balls from said grooves whereby said balls will be rendered inoperative to rotate said needle upon the return movement thereof and means for doiiing cotton from the barbedl section of said needle upon its return movement.

4. In a cotton picking machine of the type employing rotating needle spindles, a series of groups ing said sections as a unit, a sleeve in which said of spirally grooved needle spindles, stationary sleeves for rotatably receiving said spindles, a collar mounted for limited sliding movement on each of said sleeves, ball recesses in said collar, balls in said recesses movable into the grooves of a spindle for imparting rotary movement thereto only upon the forward thrust thereof and means for reciprocating said spindles.

5. In a cotton picking machine of the type employing rotating needle spindles, a series of groups of spirally grooved needle spindles, astationary sleeve rotatably receiving each of said spindles, balls retained for movement into the grooves of each spindle for imparting rotary movement thereto only upon the forward thrust thereof, means for retracting said balls from saidl grooves upon reverse movement of said spindle,. guards',

carried by the operative end of the needles of said spindles and means for reciprocating said spindles. Y

6. In a cotton picking machine a series of spindleshavingspiral grooves therein and pro- Y vided with barbed picking sections, grouped sleeves in which'said spindles are operative, balls retained for movement into the grooves of each collar to rotate said barbed section andmeans for dofng cotton impaled on said latter section.

. 3. In a cotton picking machine having opposedgroups of reciprocating picking needles, a' needle` and an operating means therefor, said needle having a spirally grooved shank and a barbed sec tion for impaling cotton when projected into a cotton bearing plantfa guard carriedV by the operative end of said barbed section,a stationspindle' for imparting rotary motion to said spindle and its barbed section in one direction only, means for withdrawing said balls from said grooves upon 'reverse movement of said spindle, means carried by the end of each barbed section to protect cottonstalk foliage from the eiects of the barbs vduring the impaling thrust of said barbed section, Vmeans, for reciprocating said spindles and means -for dofng said barbed sections. l

WILLIAM N.' l 

